Crash and Spyro, A Friendship Across Lifetimes C14

Chapter 14: Igniting the Flame

IGNITUS was born four years after his brother, Malefor. But Ingitus never knew that Malefor was his brother until he was an adult. Although they belonged to separate birth classes, they eventually became best friends. They grew up together in a peaceful time for the Dragon Realms. Malefor always ambition traveling to all the Dragon Realms and even wanted to explore what was beyond these magical islands. The war with the Sorceress was a long time ago, and Malefor couldn’t spend his entire life constricted to Artisans. Traveling between islands was a hassle, it was mostly reserved for the Elder Dragons, and none ever considered tourism an important thing to do. His boring life in Artisans frustrated Malefor to no end and this lead to arguments with Ignitus on whether or not they should just abandon their mediocre roles and explore the world.

“Well, how do you plan to get passed the barrier to the Forgotten Realms, Malefor? What, do you think you can just walk through it?”

“I don’t know, Ignitus. But I bet I can find out.”

“How? Are going to ask and Elder Dragon? Cause I think that would work splendidly.”

“Your sarcasm is starting to annoy me, Ignitus. Look, I want to show you something, but I don’t want you to tell anyone else. Understand?”

Malefor lead his best friend to his house. Malefor had just turned twenty, and finally got a place to himself. Ignitus was only sixteen, and would defiantly have to wait until he could live on his own.

“Check this out!” Malefor showed Ignitus a large, glistening gem that was hidden in house.”

“Are you crazy! Is that a Power Gem! Where the hell did you get that? You didn’t steal it from the catacombs, did you?”

Malefor and Ignitus had accidently discovered the catacombs underneath Artisans when they had gone exploring years ago. They discovered an elaborate system of tunnels that they could easily have gotten lost in. In their attempts at exploring the caves, they discovered a library containing thousands of books and texts that detailed all kinds of information on the Elders and History of the Dragons. They both returned to the place frequently and learned all about the Forgotten Realms, some information on the Sorceress, and what was known about the Power Gems that the Dragon’s had in their possession. The power said to be locked within the Gems could be accessed by certain individuals and give them God like power. They also learned that five Power Gems were hidden on five of the six islands in the Dragon Realms, but not specified where. Malefor had a suspicion that Artisan’s Power Gem was in the catacombs, but Ignitus didn’t want to explore deeper into the cave for fear of being caught.

“Why on Earth did you take the Power Gem out of the catacombs? The Elder Dragon of Artisans will defiantly know that you took it, given that he knows everything that happens on this island.”

“How many times do I have to remind you Ignitus, The Elder Dragon of Artisan’s intellectus does not give him omnipotence for all things that happen on this Island. He must actually think or concentrate on something to actually know about it. So as long as he doesn’t become suspicious about the Power Gem, he won’t know where it is or who took it.

”But Malefor, why did you take the Power Gem? What could you possible do with it?”

“I want to learn how to use its power. I think I can use this Power Gem to exit the Realm of The Dragons. I think if I had control over multiple Power Gems, if I learned how to wield their energy correctly, I could kill the Sorceress.”

“Are you insane? Don’t you remember reading about how several dragons with six Power Gems couldn’t defeat the Sorceress who only had one?”

“The texts are misleading. The Dragon’s did not harness the power of the Gems correctly, for you see our ancestors feared the power. To those whose wills are weak, the power Gems will control you. The power is intoxicating; it will consume you and take control. Instead of embracing and conquering the power like the Sorceress somehow did, our Elders hide these Gems and cower here on these Islands. A Dragon can defeat the Sorceress, for the Gem itself has revealed this knowledge to me. I feel the power surging inside, waiting to be taped. Can’t you feel the power, Ignitus? You should be able to, for the Gem has also revealed to me that we are brothers.”

Before Ignitus could process this information, Malefor hugged his long lost brother. No Dragon ever knew who their parents or siblings were. Dragons’ couples usually only had two children, twice in eight years, but they didn’t raise their children, the community did. The community was your family; everyone was your brother and sister, father or mother, or you elder. But now hearing that Ignitus’ best friend was actually his actual brother, it was surreal.

“Come Ignitus, I want you to feel this power from the Gem. I want you to know for yourself what the Power Gem has told me, and maybe you will see things the way I do. Why we can accomplish what our ancestors failed at. Why we can restore things to the way they were before that bitch Sorceress took our people’s land, heritage, culture, and life’s from us. Together, we can save the world and avenge our race.”

Ignitus, trusting his brother, stared at the Power Gem and was hit with a vision. Malefor was indeed his brother, and he would wield the energy of the Gems, but who was controlling whom? He then saw a young, purple dragon. The vision was vague, but somehow, Ignitus and Malefor’s destiny was not with the Sorceress, but with each other. That young dragon looked back at him with amity, and then the reverie subsided.

“Do you understand now, brother?” Malefor asked Ignitus.

“I do, Malefor.”